Air cleaner



' 1,620,890 March .15, 1927.. E RrHUNT-LEY.

AIR CLEANER Filed Oct. 6; 1920 s" sheets sheex 1 .INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Emeest R. Hunfjgy March is, 19 7. 1,620,890

E. R. HUNTLEY AIR CLEANER Filed 061 e, 1920 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- E/"neat R Huntley ATTORNEY March 15, 1927. 1,620,890

E. R. HUNTLEY AIR CLEANER v Filed Oct. 6 .l920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

Ernest R. Hunf/g "m ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,620,890 PATENT OFFICE.

nnnnsr n. nUnrL'nY, or mnwnnxnnwrsconsrn, ASSIGNOR r INDUSTRIAL ansnancn conronarron, or 'ronnno, OHIO, a conronarron or DELAWARE.

AIR CLEANER.

Application filed October 6, 1920. Serial No. 415,158.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for purifying gases, and particularly for separating therefrom solid substances such as dust, soot, ashes, etc., and

6 also for condensin vapors, for, cooling air, for removing smo e,,etc., by bringing the gases by means of centrifugal action into as hntifinate contact as possible with a washing A particular object of my invention is to construct such an apparatus in which a rotatin member is rotated by the current of gas awn or blown through the apparatus;

Another objectis to construct such. an

i apparatus in which a rotating member carr1es the liquid into contact with the gas, said member being rotated by the gas current drawn or blown through the apparatus.

Another object is to provide a liquid container in which the level .is maintained at a constant position by a float valveso that a uniform quantity of liquid is elevated by the rotatin elemen Another object is to provide a more eflicient, compact, andcheap construction than heretofore used.

Other objects will appear as I proceed with a more detailed description of that particular embodiment of the invention which, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown in the appended drawings, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure I represents a side elevation of the gas washer, with parts broken away to show tne internal structure.

Figure II is a vertical section on line v 22 of Fi re I.

Fi re I is a view lookin upward from E0 the ttom with the float c amber casing detached.

Fi re IV is a section on line 44 of Fi ure showing the air passages through t e stationary vanes.

In the drawin the same reference numerals refer to t e same parts throughout the several views.

1 represents the outer casing of the gas washer, which is suspended from the brac et 2 by screws 3, the bracket being attached to its support by screws 4. Casing 1 isprovided at its center with a depending cylindrical portion 5 which has openings 6 at the to serving as air inlets. Rigidly mounted 5 wlthin the lower part of the cylindrical portion 5 is the set ofvstationary vanes 7 which are attached to the member 9. Member 9- 1s ri idly supported securel against a shoul er ll within the cylindbr 5 by the bolts 8 which depend from the spider 10 formed integral with casing 1 over the top of cylinder 5. Immediately below the Sta-- tronary vanes 7 a set of impeller vanes 12 are rrgldly mounted upon the rotary shaft 13,

and are so designed that the entering as is directed by vanes 7 to impart a rapi y rotating motion to the impeller. Theupper end of shaft 13 is carried by a bearing 14 in the spider 10 while near its lower end it 1s supported by a step ball bearin Mounted upon the lower end of-sha 13, such as by screw threads as shown in Figure II, is the outer conical member 16. The

inner conical member 17 is rigidly mounted upon the impeller 12, and the gas assin through the lmpeller vanes isthus directed through the narrow space between the two concentric conical members 16 and 17.

A detachable-casing 18 which serves as the liquid reservoir is supported immediately un er casing 1 by means of the bail like member 19 which catches in the detent 20 in the bottom of the casing to retaiii'the' same .in position. The liquid level is maintained at a predetermined position b means of a float. 23 and float valve 24 in t e liquid supply pipe 25. 'The bottom of member 16 is formed into a downwardly extending cone 26 the tisp of which extends below the liquid level. urrounding the revolving cone 26 and spaced a short distance therefrom .is a

stationary cone shaped member 21 which is slightly flattened at the tip and contains therein an aperture 22 to allow the liquid to enter the space between members 21 and 26. Cone member 21 is supported by an outwardly flaring base attached to the bottom of easing 1 by means of screw 29. The outwardly flaring base is provided with a series of'openings 7 0 (see Figure III) to allow the liquid to return to the reservoir.

In the operation of my device, the gas to be cleaned enters at the top through openings 6, and in passing through the stationary vanes 7 is directed against the vanes of the impeller 12 and thus causes a rapid rotation of shaft 13 carrying the conemembers 16 and 17 and the cone 26. Liquid is "picked up by adhesion by the tip of cone causes the liquid film to pass up the surface of the cone and thence through the small openings 27 into the space between cone members 16 and 17 where the liquid film comes in contact with the gas to be cleaned. Member 16 is provided with a downwardly and inwardly turned flange 28 just below openings 27 which serves to catch the liquid flying radially out and to direct the same up through the holes 27. The 11 u1d film now passes up along the inner sur ace of cone 16 and out over the top of cone 16 where it is sprayed horizontally against the casin 1 by the action of centrifugal force. T e gas in passing in a thin layer between the concentric cones 16 and 17 comes in intimate contact with the liquid film and thus its impurities may be taken up by the I I liquid. -At the top of the cone the gas current is turned downward through the thin spray of liquid and here again the gas is back into the reservoir 18 w ere the solid impurities settle out. The reservoir is easily discharged whenever desired by swinging member 19 aside and withdrawing casing 18.

It should be observed that the velocity of the air as it passes from the central cylinder 5 to the passageway 31 diminishes appreciably, due to the fact that the area of the passage through which the air is moving is considerably enlarged. This arises from the fact that the cylinder 5 is more or less constricted, while adjacent the edge 30 of the casing 1, the air may pass at any point in the circumference thereof, and the speed therefore, is a preciably less. In

conse uence, there is no important tendency .to de ect the liquid falling from the edge of the cone 16 into the passageway 31.

This invention is intended particularly forcleaningair to be used in an internal combustion en ine. The air is then drawn through the c eaner by the suction. of the engine. However itv may be used for cleaning air for any other purpose and the air may be drawn through by any suction producing means, or it may be supplied under pressure to the cleaner.

I am aware that the particularembodiment of m invention above described and illustrated 1s susceptible-of considerable variation withoutdepartin from the'essence thereof and therefore I esire to claim the invention broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gas washer, a cleaning liquid reservoir, an inverted rotatable cone having its apex dipping beneath the surface of said liquid, whereby a thin film of 11 u1d 1S ele: vated along the outer surface 0 said cone b adhesion and centrifugal force,a rotatable hollow cone member, means for passing the liquid film from the outer surface of the first cone to the inner surface of said hollow cone, and means for passing the gas to be cleaned along the inner surface of said hollow cone.

2. In a gas washer, a cleaning liquid reservoir,an inverted rotatable. cone having its apex dipping), beneath the surface of said liquid, w ere y a thin film of li uid is elevated along the outer surface 0 said cone b adhesion and centrifugal force, a rotatable hollow cone member, means for passing the liquid-film from the outer surface of the first cone to the inner surface of said hollow cone means for passing the gas to be cleaned a ong the inner surface of said hollow cone, and means for spraying the elevated li uid across the current of gas passing throug the washer.

3. In an apparatus for subjecting gases to the action of liquids, a vessel for containing the liquid, a rotatable cone for elevating the liquid, a rotatable hollow cone member for receiving liquid from the elevator cone and for forming a film of liquid on its inner. surface by centrifugal force, means for spraying said liquid film from said cone member, means for passing the uucleaned gas in intimate contact with said-liquid film, and means for rotating said 'cone member by the current of as passing through. the appa ratus.

4. A gas washer, comprising a liquid reservoir, a rotatable cone for elevating the liquid, a rotatable funnel shaped member for receiving liquid from the elevator cone and for forming a film of liquid on its inner surface by centrifugal force, means for passing the uncleaned gas in intimate contact I with said film. and means for rotating said funnel shaped member by the velocity of the gas passing through the washer.

5. In a gas cleaning apparatus, the combination of a. reservoir adapted to hold cleaning liquid; a rotatable member positioned above said reservoir and including a permanently inverted conical member adapted to rotate in the cleaning liquid and elevate same; and a hollow conical member the inner walls of which are adjacent and in pro-' cleaned gases in juxtaposition to said cleaningliquid.

6. In a gas cleaning apparatus, the combination of a reservoir adapted to hold cleanmg liquid; a rotatable member-positioned above said reservoir and including a permanently inverted conical member adapted to rot-ate in the cleaning liquid and elevate same; and a hollow conical member theinner chamber having a gas inlet and outlet; 9, ro-

tatable member in said chamber for aiding the separation of foreign particles from'gas passing through the cleaner,, said member aving a skirt attached to and rotatable therewith; means for conducting the incommg gases over said rotatable member and passageways between the skirt and member whereby liquid is passed from the outside of the member to the inside of the skirt.

8. In a gas cleaner, the combination of a chamber having a gas inlet and outlet; a rotatable member in said chamber for aiding the separation of foreign particles from gas passing through the cleaner, a skirt mounted on the periphery of said rotatable member and rotatable therewith; and means for conducting gases over said rotatable member and about the outer edge of said skirt whereby a reversal of direction of the incoming gas current is brought about. I

9. In a gas cleaning apparatus; the combination of a chamber having a gas inlet and outlet; a rotatable member in said chamber for aiding the separation of foreign particles from the gas passing througn the apparatus, said member comprisinga nluralit irt exnan of gas deflecting blades; and a s ing outwardly from said blades; stationary blades adjacent said rotatable blades; means for conducting incoming gases between said stationary and rotatable blades and around the periphery of said skirt whereby said member is rotated; and a non-rotatable cupshaned member with its edge positioned adjacent the periphery of said skirt about which edge the incoming gases are adapted to have movement. v

10. In a gas cleaning ap aratus, the combination of a casing, a cupaped member in said casing having a projecting side wall; an outlet port positioned adjacent the wall of saidv cup-shaped- 'member; and a rotatable member positioned adjacent the edge of said cup-shaped member, said rotatable member including a plurality of radially extending blades adapted to receive the impact of the incoming gases; and a skirt extending outwardl from said blades; the periphery of said s irt terminating adjacent-the wall of said cup-shaped member; an inlet port adjacent the blades of the rotatable member; and means for conducting gases from said inlet port between said blades and about said skirt to said cup-shaped member.

11. In a gas cleaning apparatus, the com I bination of a casing having inlet and outlet ports; a rotatable member-within said casmg having radial blades positioned thereunon and a skirt extending outwardly beyond the ends of said blades; stationary blades adjacent said rotatable blades, and a non-rotatable cup-shaped member positioned 'within said casing, the wall of which being 'in juxtaposition with the eriphery of said skirt; and means for con ucting incoming gases between said rotatable and stationary blades over the peripher ofsaid skirt and about the edge of the wa l of thecup-shaped member, the passing of the gases between the blades causing rotation of the rotatable member.

In testimony whereof, I a-fiix my signature.

ERNEST R. HUNTLEY. 

